Dumping grate mechanism



Julyi27, 1937. A. M. MEYERSTEIN .Dumme GRATE MEHANIsM I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filedl Aug. 26,*1936 R O T N E V m ANTHONY M. MEYERSTE/N BY I Y a ATT NEY `Iuly 27, 1937. A..M. MEYERsTElN 2,088,303

DUMPING GRATE MECHANISM I V Filed Aug. 2e, 193e; f 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVTOR NTHNY MEYERSTEIN BY I. Q

ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1931 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE Y 2,088,303 y DUMPING GRATE MEoHANTsM Application August 26, 1936, Serial No.1V 97,877

8 Claims.

This inventionrelates to an improved dumping grate' mechanismrsuch as may be used, for example, in connection with garbage and refuse incinerators Y, p

Dumping grates for .incinerators and other types of furnaces have heretofore been supported in closed position by means of toggle members. But suchV prior arrangements have 'not been entirely satisfactory because of incorrect design and improper location of the necessary counterweights and for other reasons. The counterweights have been associated with the toggle members in such a manner that the opening of the grates has caused the counterweights to strike the adjacent furnace walls thereby injuring the same. Furthermore the counterweights have not been positioned properly with respect to the center of mass of the associated dumping gratos. Accordingly, considerable effort has been necessary to move the grates between closed and open positions. y

It is the object of the present invention so to vdesign the dumping grate supporting mechanism andv associated counterweights that the grates will be more securely held in ash-supporting po- -sition and more easily dumped by the Afurnace operator without the possibility of the counterweights striking and injuring the furnace Walls. In the present arrangement each'counterweight is at maximum displacement from the shaft upon which the grate is supported when the Ygrate is Afully opened, or dumped. Thus the counterweight can immediately give maximum assistance as soon as the grates are moved toward closed position. When the grates are in the latter position the counterweights lie close -to the grate shaft and have the minimum tendency to resist movement of the grates as the latter are .moved toward open position. r-I'hus .the gratos are dumped more -quickly and the furnace, or incinerator, may be operated with greater .speed than has `been y.possibleheretofore.

Another object `is to provide stopV means for limiting the positions of the dumping `grates both -i-n their closed and opened positions and to provide safety-devices for holding the grates in these positions. j

A further Vobject is `to arrangeYt-he grate mechanism in such a manner'that nod'ead plates are knecessary and the maXimum'area-bet-ween division walls of the vfurnace may be used for grate surface.

`.Further objectsv 'of Ithe invention will be ap-v conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which f Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a furnace embodying a preferred arrangement of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 3'-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the grates in closed` position; 1 Y f Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the grates dumped, or in open position.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 2 4, the numeral I indicates the division walls of the furnace upon which the grate mechanism is supported by means of a frame 2 resting v upon the walls as shown. Stationary gratos 3 aregsupported upon the frame 2 along the edges` adjacent the furnace walls I. It will be observed that these grates extend from the dumping `gratesto the division walls I and Ythat the entire area between these walls is used for grate surface.4 `The movable, or dumping, grates 4 are rotatably supported upon the shaft 5 which extends across the grate .opening and has its ends supported in the bushings 6, as shown more yclearlyin Fig. 2. These bushings are supported in the depending flanges 1.

The supporting shaft 5 passes through bearings 8, the upper halves of which are formed integral either side of the counterweights l guide links I are supported upon the operating shaft I2 and are connected to the flower portion of the counterweights by means of the pins I6 yprojecting into the counterweights. .While the oper? ating shaft I2 has been shown as being located directly below the shaft .5, upon which the dumping grates are supported, this arrangement is not essential andshaftl2may be located either to the left or right of a vertical axis of shaft 5. Y

From this description it will be apparent that line through the when the dumping grates are closed, as shown in Fig. 3, the counterweights are close to vertical lines passing through the axes of the supporting shafts 5. When the dumping grates are moved to open positions, as shown in Fig. 4, the counterweights are moved away from these vertical lines by the downward movement of the grates. When the grates have been fully opened by rotation of the operating shaft as hereinafter described, the counterweights Il) have been raised to their highest positions and are displaced their maximum distance from these vertical lines; When the operating shaft I2 is rotated in the opposite direction to close the grates, the counterweights afford the greatest assistance in the upward movements of the grates. Since the upper and lower portions of the counterweights are secured by the arms 9 and guide links I5, respectively, there is no possibility of the counterweights striking and thereby injuring the furnace walls I. The counterweight guide links I5 may be connected by means of the bars I'I which assure uniform movement of each of the counterweights and further prevent any possible swaying of the counterweights while the dumping grates are being opened and closed. It is important that the counterweights should not strike the furnace walls I because such walls are usually constructed of masonry which may be injured thereby to such an extent that in time they will lack the necessary strength to support the grates.

The dumping grates are supported in closed position and are dumped by means of a toggle mechanism comprising the cranks, I8, secured to' the operating shaft I2, and the links I9 connected to the dumping grates. The upper ends of the links I9 are adjustably connected to the depending bosses 2U on the under sides of the dumping grates by the threaded members 2I which permit adjustment of the effective lengths of the toggle members. Bosses 22 projecting from the undersides of the grates are provided with adjustable studs 23 which abut against the projections 24 near the upper ends of the toggle links I9. When the grates are fully closed, as shown in Fig. 3, the arms I8 and links I9 are slightly out of alignment. The projection 24 contacting the adjusting screws 23 limit the closing movements of the toggle members. The dumping grates are thus held in closed positions until the cranks I8 are rotated so as to break the toggle linkages. As shown in Fig.` 4, the projections 24 on the toggle links I9 abut against the cranks I8 and thereby limit the opening positions of the dumping grates.

When it is desired to dump the grates, the arms I8 are rotated by the operating shaft I2. This movement breaks the toggle connection to the grates and permits the grates to fall, due to their own weight plus the weight of the material supported thereon. Operating handles 25 are attached to the ends ofthe shafts I2 and are provided with latches 26 adapted to hold the handles in the position shown in Fig. l when not being used, thereby `acting as safety devices to hold the dumping grates in closed positions if the toggle links should break. Each of the handles is provided with a depending arm 21 having a hole 28 therein. When the handles have been moved so as to open the grates fully these holes are in alignment with the holes 29 in the channel member 3D. Bolts may be inserted in these holes to hold the grates fully opened, if desired.

As shown in Fig. 2 the toggle cranks I8 are located in the spaces between the bifurcated upper portions of the counterweights which enables the toggle links I9 to be connected to the 4middle portions of the grates and thereby reduce the possibility of the counterweights swaying during opening and closing of the grates.

I claim:

1. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, toggle members connected to the grate and actuated by said operating shaft, a counterweight, and a member connected thereto and rigidly to the grate and rotatable about said supporting shaft.

2. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, toggle members connected to the grate and actuated by said operating shaft, a counterweight rotatably connected to a member which is rigidly fastened to the grate and rotatable about said supporting shaft, and adjustable stop members for limiting the position o-f the toggle arms when the grate is in closed position.

3. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, toggle members connected to: the grate and actuated by said operating shaft, a counterweight, a member connecting a part of said counterweight with said supporting shaft, a second member connecting another part of said counterweight with said operating shaft, said members raising the counterweight to its maximum height and lateral displacement from said shafts when the grate is fully dumped.

4. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, said shafts being in substantially Vertical alignment, toggle members connected to the grate and actuated by said operating shaft, a. counterweight, a member connected to said counterweight, rigidly connected to the grate and rotatable about said supporting shaft, said member being adapted to raise said counterweight to its maximum height and lateral displacement when the grate is fully dumped.

5. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, said shafts being in substantially vertical alignment, toggle members connected to the grate and actuated by said operating shaft, a counterweight, members connected to the upper and lower portions of said counterweight, the upper-connecting member being rotatable about the grate-supporting shaft and the lower-connecting member being rotatable about the operating shaft, said members being adapted to raise said counterweight to its maximum height and lateral displacement from said shafts when the grate isv fully dumped, and adjustable stop members for limiting the position of the toggle arms when the grate is in closed position.

6. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, toggle members. adapted to break downwardly when the grate is dumped comprising a link connected to the grate and a crankarm connected to said link and rotated by said operating shaft to break the toggle, a counterweight and members connected to said counterweight at spaced points thereon and rotatable about said shafts.

'7. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, toggle members adapted to break downwardly when the grate is, dumped comprising a link adjustably connected to the grate so that its effective length may be Varied and a crankarm connected to said link and rotated by said operating shaft to break CFI the toggle, adjustable stop means between said link and grate to limit the closing position o-f the toggle members, a counterweight, and links co-nnected at spaced points thereon and rotatable about said shafts to place said counterweight at its maximum height and lateral displacement from said shafts when the grate is fully dumped.

8. In dumping grate mechanism, a supporting shaft for the grate, an operating shaft, toggle members including a link connected to the grate and having a projection thereon and an arm actuated by said operating shaft, said grate having a stop member abutting against said link to limit the upward breaking movement of said toggle members and said projection contacting said arm to limit the open position of the toggle members;

ANTHONY M. MEYERS'I'EIN. Y 

